U.S. patent number 5,000,700 [Application Number 07/534,031] was granted by the patent office on 1991-03-19 for interface cable connection.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Daiichi Denshi Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Yasuhiro Kawatsu, Hitoshi Masubuchi.
United States Patent |
5,000,700 |
Masubuchi , et al. |
March 19, 1991 |
Interface cable connection
Abstract
An interface cable connection is used for connecting between
electronic appliances, particularly appliances associated with a
computer. The connection includes a hood covering the connector.
The connection is useful for preventing accidental electric shocks,
filtering undesirable electromagnetic waves and facilitating
connecting interface cables.
Inventors: |
Masubuchi; Hitoshi (Tokyo),
Kawatsu; Yasuhiro (Tokyo, JP) |
Assignee: |
Daiichi Denshi Kogyo Kabushiki
Kaisha (JP)
|
Family
ID: |
13427203 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/534,031 |
Filed: |
June 6, 1990 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jun 14, 1989 [JP] |
|
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1-70290 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
439/620.03;
333/185 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
13/7197 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
13/719 (20060101); H01R 013/66 () |
Field of
Search: |
;439/620
;333/181-185 |
Primary Examiner: Paumen; Gary F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Silverman, Cass & Singer,
Ltd.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An interface cable connection comprising, a male and a female
connector at forward ends of two interface cables, each of the
connectors having an insulator tightly fitted in a forward end of
the respective connector, and contacts embedded in the respective
insulator, an annular conductor embedded in one of the insulators,
and a hood made of an insulating material, said hood being
separable from and covering one of the connectors and the interface
cable connected to the connector, the hood having filter means
provided therein, adjacent to but outside of the connector.
2. An interface cable connection as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said cable connection comprises fastening means having male screw
threads and female screw threads, said male screw threads being
formed in a metallic main body of the connector provided with the
hood, and said female screw threads having an outer circumference
provided with an insulating coating.
3. An interface cable connection as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said hood comprises a connector covering portion for covering the
connector and a magnet enclosing portion for enclosing said filter
means, and anchoring means provided between the connector covering
portion and the magnet enclosing portion at an end of the magnet
enclosing portion.
4. An interface cable connection as set forth in claim 3, wherein
said anchoring means is an inner diameter reduced portion whose
inner diameter is at least equal to an outer diameter of the
interface cable.
5. An interface cable connection as set forth in claim 4, wherein
said anchoring means is fixed to the interface cable with an
adhesive.
6. An interface cable connection as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said hood is formed of an elastic material and has a connector
covering portion for covering the connector, the inner diameter of
said connector covering portion being slightly smaller than the
outer diameter of a metallic main body of the connector.
7. An interface cable connection as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said hood is made of non-rigid polyvinyl chloride.
8. An interface cable connection as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said filter means is a cylindrical magnet having a center aperture
through which the interface cable passes.
9. An interface cable connection as set forth in claim 8, wherein
said magnet is a ferrite core.
10. An interface cable connection as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said hood comprises a connector covering portion for covering one
connector and an enlarged portion at a forward end of the connector
covering portion for receiving fastening means for fastening the
connector with the other connector.
11. An interface cable connection as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said hood has a connector covering portion for covering the
connector, said connector covering portion being formed with a
screw-threaded aperture and a set screw threadly engaged in the
screw-threaded aperture of the connector covering portion and
having an inner end being urged against a metallic main body of the
connector, thereby fixing the hood against the connector.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a connection for an interface cable
connecting between electronic appliances, particularly appliances
for computers. More particularly, this invention relates to a hood
for covering a connector for use in a connection of the
appliances.
In general, an electronic appliance, particularly a computer has a
central processor arranged at a center to which are connected a
memory device, an input unit, an output unit and the like to form
one system.
For example, in the computer system above described, the respective
devices are connected by so-called interface cables. In most cases,
each of the interface cables has a so-called interface connector at
its mid-point which detachably connects two parts of the interface
cable.
FIGS. 1a and 1b exemplarily illustrate such a connector which is
widely used.
The connector shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b is a coaxial two-core
connector having a female connector A and a male connector B. In
the connectors A and B, each of the main bodies 1 and 1' is made of
metal and is formed of generally cylindrical configuration. The
main body 1 or 1' is provided with an insulator 2 or 2' in which
are embedded contacts 3 or 3' and a cylindrical annular conductor 4
or 4'.
A forward end of each of interface cable 5 and 5' is exposed and
fixed to the connector A or B by means of a cable clamp 6 or 6'
made of metal and provided in the main body 1 or 1'. Center
conductors 8 of coaxial cables 7 in the interface cable 5 and 5'
are electrically connected to the contacts 3 and 3' directly or
through lead wires, and outer conductors 9 are electrically
connected to the annular conductors 4 and 4' directly or through
lead wires.
Moreover, the fixed portion of the interface cable 5 or 5' is
covered by a conductive braid which covers the built-in coaxial
cables 7 and is turned 180.degree. to cover a sheath of the
interface cable. Since the fixed portion of the interface cable 5
or 5' is clamped to the conductive braid by means of the cable
clamp 6 or 6', the conductive braid of the interface cable and the
main body 1 or 1' of the connector are electrically connected to
each other.
When the male connector B is moved in the direction shown by an
arrow therefor in FIG. 1a, it is fitted in the female connector A
so that a fitted condition of the connectors is obtained as shown
in FIG. 1b. In this condition, the contacts 3 and 3' contact each
other in contact recesses 2-1 of the insulator 2 of the female
connector A, while the annular conductors 4 and 4' contact each
other in an annular recess 2-2. A connecting nut or internal thread
member 10' provided on the male connector B is threadedly engaged
on screw-threads 10 formed on an outer circumference of the main
body 1 of the female connector A so that the main bodies 1 and 1'
of the female and male connectors A and B are electrically
connected to each other.
With the development of electronic techniques, the number of
electric and electronic appliances which rely upon electric power
as their energy source have increased. With such an increase of
appliances, various noise electromagnetic noise waves are emitted
from these electric and electronic appliances to disturb their
activity. For the purpose of eliminating such electromagnetic
interferences, even with the usual interface connector of the prior
art as shown in FIG. 1b, a filter such as an annular or cylindrical
magnet, for example, a ferrite core 11 is fitted on the interface
cable adjacent the connectors A and B as shown in FIG. 2. The
filter is fixed thereat by a plastic mold 12, a thermally
contractible tube or turns of plastic tape on the outer surface of
the filter 11 so that undesirable electromagnetic waves are
filtered to prevent them from affecting the electronic
appliances.
The connectors of the prior art shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b and 2
include the metallic main bodies 1 and 1'. Therefore, when the
connectors are connected or disconnected for the purpose of
connecting, disconnecting or exchanging interface cables, there is
often a risk of unpredictable and accidental electric shock or the
like which may injure human bodies as the case may be, if high
voltage is applied to the main bodies due to a thunderbolt,
electric leakage or the like.
In case of a connector provided adjacent to a magnet capable of
removing undesirable electromagnetic waves as shown in FIG. 2,
special instruments and tools and difficult assembly operations are
needed, such as injection molding of plastic coating, winding
plastic tapes or heating for thermal shrinkage, in order to affix
the magnet. Moreover, in cases where terminal treatment (forming of
connections) of cables of predetermined lengths is effected off
site in a factory, if lengths of cables are erroneously cut too
short, they cannot be used and therefore are wasted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an interface cable
connection which eliminates all the disadvantages of the prior art
and which is high in quality and reliability and is able to prevent
any accidental electric shock and any impediment in electromagnetic
waves and malfunction of a computer due to undesirable waves.
In order to accomplish said object in an interface cable connection
including a male and a female connector at forward ends of two
cables, each of the connectors having an insulator tightly fitted
in a forward end of the connector, and contacts and an annular
insulator embedded in the insulator, the connection according to
the invention comprises a hood constructed of an insulating
material and covering one of the connectors and the interface cable
connected to the connector, and the hood includes filter means
located adjacent to the connector.
When the hood having said filter means is mounted on an interface
connector, the hood insulates and covers the connector.
Since the hood includes a filter, for example, a magnet,
undesirable electromagnetic waves are filtered when the hood is
fitted on an interface connector.
Since the hood has been previously manufactured so as to be
detachable, terminal treatment of interface cables can be effected
at job sites and molding treatment is not required at actual such
sites after mounting of the connector.
The invention will be more fully understood by referring to the
following detailed specification and claims taken in connection
with the appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1a and 1b and 2 illustrate
interface cables with connectors of the prior art;
FIG. 3 illustrates an interface cable connection according to the
invention;
FIG. 4 illustrates a hood used in the interface cable connection
according to the invention; and
FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view illustrating a preferred
embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 3 illustrates a connection of an interface cable according to
the invention. In FIG. 3, like components are designated by the
same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1. A metallic main body 1
or 1' receives therein an insulator 2 or 2' in which contacts 3 or
3' and an annular conductor 4 or 4', are retained. An interface
cable 5 or 5' is clamped to a female or male connector and includes
coaxial cables 7, each including a center conductor 8 and an outer
conductor 9. Reference numeral 10 denotes screw threads formed on
the main body 1 of the female connector, while reference numeral
10' denotes a connecting nut. The screw threads 10 and the
connecting nut 10' form fastening means for firmly connecting the
two connectors.
According to the invention there is provided a hood 13 including a
filter 11, for example, a magnet built therein.
The hood having the magnet therein according to the invention is
detachably mounted on a connector. A construction of the hood is
shown in FIG. 4. In brief, the hood according to the invention
comprises a connector covering portion 13-1 and a magnet enclosing
portion 13-2 and, if required, an enlarged portion 13-3. The
connector covering portion 13-1 receives therein the connector A or
B. The magnet enclosing portion 13-2 encloses therein an annular or
cylindrical magnet 11. The magnet used herein is annular or
cylindrical and has an inner diameter slightly larger than a cable
diameter and an outer diameter which is suitably selected but
smaller than an outer diameter of the main body of the connector.
The cylindrical magnet may be formed by a plurality of annular
magnets which are equal or different in dimension or electromagnet
characteristics.
In general, a commercially available magnet referred to as ferrite
core is preferably used as the magnet 11. A material and magnetic
force of the ferrite core may be properly selected depending upon
kinds of waves to be filtered.
Sizes of the connector covering and magnet enclosing portions 13-1
and 13-2 can be selected relatively freely so long as they are able
to accommodate the connector and the magnet, respectively. However,
it is preferable to select sizes of the connector covering and
magnet enclosing portions so as to be relatively small because of
the somewhat restricted spaces in which such connectors usually are
located.
If the hood 13 is made of an elastic material such as rubber, an
inner diameter of the connector covering portion 13-1 may be
slightly smaller than the outer diameter. With this arrangement,
when once the hood is provided on the connector to cover it, the
hood is firmly secured to the connector of its own accord with the
aid of friction therebetween.
Moreover, a size of the enlarged portion 13-3 is suitably selected
to be able to accommodate the connecting portion with a mating
connector or the connecting nut and to permit the connecting
operation. The enlarged portion 13-3 may be provided only on either
one of the male and female connectors. A hood on the mating
connector is not needed.
The hood 13 according to the invention is provided with an
anchoring portion or reduced portion 14 between the connector
covering portion 13-1 and the magnet enclosing portion 13-2 and an
anchoring portion or reduced portion 15 at an end of the magnet
enclosing portion 13-2. For example, inner diameters of the reduced
portions 14 and 15 may be equal to or slightly smaller than an
outer diameter of the interface cable 5 or 5'. In this manner, the
hood 13 is fitted on the interface cable firmly to an extent such
that the hood is not easily removed therefrom by reason of friction
at least between the reduced portions 14 and 15 and the sheath of
the interface cable 5 or 5'. The extent of the firm fitting may be
suitably designed in a relation between materials of the hood 13
and the sheath of the interface cable 5 or 5'.
General examples of the material of the hood 13 are as follows.
Where the sheath of the interface cable is made of a rubber or
plastic material for general purpose, the hood according to the
invention may be formed by a single or a mixed composition of a
natural rubber, a synthetic rubber such as polybutadiene,
polyisoprene, ethylene propylene rubber (EPR and EPTR),
polyurethane, and the like, and a plastic such as non-rigid
polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene and the like. Of these, the
non-rigid polyvinyl chloride is most preferable.
The hood according to the invention can be made by general rubber
or plastic forming techniques such as extruding, injection molding
and the like. Injection molding is particularly effective for
mass-production of the hoods.
In forming the connection of an interface cable according to the
invention, first a terminal of the cable is treated. In the
treatment of the terminal, a sheath of the interface cable is
peeled over a predetermined length to expose coaxial cables. If
there is a conductive braid, it is turned 180.degree. on the sheath
of the cable so as to cover the sheath. Moreover, insulating layers
between center conductors 8 and outer conductors 9 of the exposed
cable 5 or 5' are removed over a predetermined length, so that the
center conductors 8 and outer conductors 9 are able to be connected
to contacts 3 and 3' and annular conductors 4 and 4' of the
connectors A and B to be connected. The terminal treatment is
effected in this manner.
The previously manufactured hood 13 according to the invention has
been previously fitted on the interface cable 5 whose terminal has
been treated. Thereafter, the connector A or B is connected to the
interface cable fitted with the hood 13. In more detail, the
conductive braids of the interface cables 5 and 5' are fixed to the
connectors A and B by means of the cable clamps, respectively, and
center conductors 8 and the outer conductors 9 are connected to the
contacts 3 and 3' and the annular conductors 4 and 4' of the
connectors A and B. This connection is effected in one of various
ways such as soldering, crimping, pressure joining, pressure
welding and the like. Any one of the fixation of the cable and the
connection of the conductors of the coaxial cables may be effected
prior to the other. The order of the operations is not
critical.
After the connectors A and B are secured to the interface cable 5
and 5' in the above manner, the connectors A and B are connected to
each other so that the interface cables 5 and 5' are connected to
each other through the inner conductors 8 and the outer conductors
9 of the respective cables. Thereafter, the hood 13 previously
fitted on the cable 5 is moved toward the interface cable 5' so
that the connector covering portion of the hood 13 completely
covers the connector A. When the hood is stopped in position on the
connector A, the hood is fixed on the cable so as not to move with
ease with the aid of the resilience of the reduced portions 14 and
15 of the hood 13 and the frictional action between the cable
sheath and the reduced portions. In the securement of the hood 13,
an adhesive may be previously applied to the reduced portions 14
and 15 so that a more reliable securement is accomplished.
In the securement, moreover, any known means may be used, for
example, clamping, stud screws and the like. For example, as shown
in FIG. 5, the connector covering portion 13-1 of the hood 13 is
formed with a small screw-threaded aperture passing therethrough,
and a set screw 16 is threadedly engaged in the screwed aperture so
that the metal main body 1 is urged by an inner end of the set
screw 16.
Although the hood 13 has been explained only with respect to one of
the male and female connectors in the above description, two hoods
13 may be provided at both the connectors, respectively. In such
case, the enlarged portion 13-3 may be provided only at one of the
two hoods. It is not necessary to provided the hood at each of the
two hoods.
Moreover, in case one of the male and female connectors provided
with the connecting nut 1 does not have the hood 13, the connecting
nut 1 may be coated on its outer circumference with a coating layer
of an insulating rubber or plastic material. With such an
arrangement, an operator can effect the connecting and
disconnecting of the connectors A and B without touching the
electrically conductive portions. Therefore, the operator is
protected from accidental electric shock due to unpredictable
charging which is one problem in the prior art intended to be
avoided.
Although the connection between cables at the mid-point of an
interface cable connecting between electronic appliances has been
explained, the invention is not limited to such a connection. The
present invention is applicable to a connector on a side of an
interface cable at a connection between the interface cable and a
receptacle connector attached to an electronic appliance.
Moreover, in the above embodiment the hood 13 is fixed only with
the aid of the resilience and friction of the reduced portions 14
and 15. A clamping fastener applied to an outer circumference of
the hood or serrations formed in an inner circumference of the hood
and an outer circumference of the cable or connector may be used
which is a change of design within the scope of the invention.
Furthermore, the male and female shapes of contacts embedded in the
insulators at the connection according to the invention are not
necessarily corresponding to the male and female shapes of
connectors (insulators) to be fitted. Any combination of them may
be selected as the case may be. For example, a contact is formed in
a female type, while a connector (insulator) receiving the contact
may be a female or male type.
Although the invention has been explained with respect to coaxial
multicore interface cables, the invention is of course applicable
to other general interface cables.
The invention as above described can bring about the following
particularly significant effects.
(1) The connection of the interface cable according to the
invention includes an insulating hood covering a metallic
connector. Therefore, even if an extraordinary electric voltage is
applied to the interface cable, any accidental electric shock can
be avoided.
(2) The connection of the interface cable according to the
invention includes a hood having a magnet around the interface
cable adjacent connector so that undesirable electromagnetic waves
are filtered to prevent any impediment in electromagnetic waves,
malfunction of a computer and the like due to the undesirable
waves.
(3) The hood used in the connection according to the invention can
be manufactured in a well-equipped factory. Consequently, hoods of
a constant quality and requisite numbers can be produced at
pre-planned quantities.
(4) The hood according to the invention is preformed and detachably
attached to the connector. In forming the connection of an
interface cable, therefore, the hood does not require mold working
requiring particular equipment, tools and treatment. Consequently,
the invention can provide a connection which is high in quality and
reliability, particularly in a connecting operation which requires
specific lengths of interface cables at actual locations.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with
reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood
by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in
form and details can be made therein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *